STRONGSVILLE, Ohio – June 5, 2018PPG’s commercial coatings division has added F4943 2.1 VOC Fast Dry Urethane Sealer to its Delfleet® Evolution brand lineup. Formulated through PPG’s innovative urethane technology, the new sealer is lead- and chromate-free and fully compatible with all Delfleet® Evolution primers. A 2.1 VOC rating makes the sealer compliant for all parts of the United States and Canada.

F4943 has been designed to provide excellent gloss holdout and fast dry times. It can be topcoated in as little as fifteen minutes, making it particularly appropriate for production-focused fleet refinishers. The advanced sealer also has an improved pot life of up to three hours and a recoat window extending to three days.

“PPG is pleased to offer F4943 to our customers. This is an excellent sealer that has surpassed our own high expectations,” said Scott Colvin, PPG product manager, commercial transport. “We originally developed F4943 as a small-repair product; then we saw that its melt-in properties and gloss retention characteristics were so effective that we realized it was suitable for larger repairs as well. Shops that are interested in reducing refinish time and boosting throughput should find this new sealer a welcome addition to their process.”

Colvin also points out that the new sealer lays down smooth and blends in well with coatings layered over it, all the while maintaining good color retention. F4943 works with Delfleet® Evolution's existing F4933 Fast Dry Hardener and is available in black, white and gray.

STRONGSVILLE, Ohio – June 12, 2018
PPG has introduced a course to train technicians in the craft of refinish preparation. The course is intended to answer a critical industry need for knowledgeable and skilled assistant technicians. The two-day class, called “Refinish Preparation Specialist Training,” is designed for entry-level assistant refinish technicians who have never received any formal PPG training and work alongside body and refinish technicians using PPG products and processes.

The PPG Refinish Preparation Specialist Training class is appropriate for PPG entry-level refinish technicians in small- and high-production collision centers as well as fleet maintenance and repair shops. The “prepper course,” as it’s known, will be part of the regularly scheduled training curriculum available at each of PPG’s 16 Business Development Centers (BDCs) across North America.

“This is a class that our customers requested,” explains Gregg Whitmer, PPG zone 3 training manager. “We’ve found that there are many instances in which technicians working in our customers’ refinish operations are not properly trained on how to prepare a vehicle for refinishing. If a car isn’t cleaned or sanded correctly, prep work may have to be redone; that negatively affects productivity, efficiency and profitability. This class directly addresses this concern.”

Working with PPG instructors, new technicians will develop their skills in substrate cleaning, sanding, masking, and bumper cover and plastic parts preparation. Participants are also taught the importance of keeping a clean and organized shop. Upon satisfactorily completing the class, graduates are certified in EPA 6H Area Source Rule requirements and receive a certificate of achievement.

“This class represents a key component of our commitment to training,” said Randy Cremeans, PPG director of training. “PPG has the most complete offering of training courses in the industry, ranging from entry level to advanced. By training assistant technicians properly at the beginning of their careers, we can help ensure that they’re on the right path for continued success in the collision repair industry.”

PPG has conducted pilot runs of the prepper course. Participating technicians have been overwhelmingly receptive. A recent class in Columbus, Ohio, led by Jessica Crowley, PPG instructor, yielded an enthusiastic email from Faye Benson of Gerber Collision and Glass in nearby Grove City: Thank you so much for including me in this amazing learning opportunity. I truly had a blast, and everyone was so helpful. I learned a lot and am excited to learn more. Let everyone know how much I appreciate their help and spending the time with me so I could get it right.

Find more information about the PPG Refinish Preparation Specialist Training class and all other PPG classes including dates, locations and registration instructions at http://us.ppgrefinish.com/PPG-Refinish/training.aspx or call (800) 647-6050. Prepper classes are expected to fill quickly and early registration is encouraged.

STRONGSVILLE, Ohio – June 19, 2018
Workplace diversity is a priority across all PPG Industries’ business units. Supporting that corporate-wide commitment — a key part of PPG’s core values — the Automotive Refinish division of PPG recently released a video celebrating the company’s diversity in the workplace.

The three-minute video features Automotive Refinish team members from North America, Europe and Asia discussing the importance of diversity at PPG. Led by John Outcalt, PPG global vice president of automotive refinish, PPG leaders share insights on how diversity helps the company achieve its goals, overcome challenges and provide the best products for its customers. The idea for the video came from Outcalt and his leadership team, which is half women, half men and represents a wide range of cultural, educational and work backgrounds.

“The Automotive Refinish business unit is a great example of PPG diversity and inclusion, especially when most people still see our industry as male-dominated,” said Outcalt. “Diversity is a critical element in our core values, which put a premium on clear respect for the dignity, rights and contributions of all employees. It’s part of how we build a stronger, more inclusive and competitive company.”

Outcalt and his team see diversity as a distinct advantage. It helps create new ideas, encourages collaboration and gives everyone the opportunity to learn from each other. “Our vision is to foster a climate that recognizes the value of an engaged workforce,” he added. “We’ve carefully cultivated a global workforce with attention to gender and diversity components, retention of employees and talent management. To put it in simple terms, we value individuals, their varied backgrounds and the contributions they can make.”

Outcalt points out that PPG is an extremely diverse company with a global portfolio of businesses, product lines and operations in more than 70 countries. There are more than 150 manufacturing facilities and nearly 47,000 employees of widespread backgrounds. The commitment to diversity comes from the very top of the company.

“Our global workforce comprises a variety of cultures, languages, nationalities, religions, ethnicities and professional and educational backgrounds across an array of business units and geographic locations,” said Michael McGarry, PPG chairman and chief executive officer, upon release of the video. “A rich blend of perspectives and experiences is requisite to understanding and serving our customers’ needs, resolving the challenges that lie ahead of us and ensuring that we continue to be successful and grow.”

For more videos like this, along with an extensive library of product, training and informational videos visit the PPGRefinish YouTube channel.

STRONGSVILLE, Ohio – June 28, 2018
PPG has announced the schedule for its custom refinish painting classes for July, August and September. Held at PPG Business Development Centers (BDCs) throughout the United States, PPG’s custom painting classes are part of the company’s overall commitment to training. Classes are structured to help painters at all levels — professional refinishers, custom builders, hobbyists and others — advance their skills in creating imaginative color schemes and special effects for car, truck and motorcycle paint finishes.

Led by elite PPG instructors and covering a broad range of topics, the classes provide lectures, Q&A sessions, informal discussions and hands-on experience in the spray booth to help keep PPG customers at the forefront of industry design trends and product developments. Custom classes include:

Restoration Seminars

Lowrider Designs

Basic Airbrushing

Airbrushing Techniques

Two special classes are also offered this quarter: Award-winning painter Charley Hutton will lend his expertise and insights to PPG’s Restoration Seminar sessions. The seminars address the challenges involved in the complex automotive restoration process. Charley will discuss exclusive PPG processes and products for successfully prepping and painting bare metal, blasted steel, plastic parts and body filler.

Renowned airbrush artist Shannon MacDonald will teach a special advanced airbrushing course. This fast-paced, two-day event will give airbrush artists the chance to take their talents to a new level as they learn Shannon’s approach to creating color combinations, color mixing, using Envirobase® High Performance basecoat’s features to get desired special effects and much more. The class will be held July 17 – 18, at the PPG BDC in Allison Park, Penn.

Supporting all these subjects is instruction in the selection and proper use of PPG basecoats, undercoats, topcoats and clearcoats for different types of projects; surface preparation and paint application best practices.

Custom painting courses focus on several PPG brands including popular Vibrance Collection® products and their compatibility with PPG premium quality solvent and waterborne topcoats such as Deltron® and Envirobase® High Performance systems. Upon completing PPG custom refinish classes, individuals can join the Vibrance Collection® community and post images of their work at www.vibrancecollection.com.

STRONGSVILLE, Ohio – June 28, 2018
PPG has released its schedule of collision refinish training classes for July, August and September. Classes cover key collision refinish subjects and are designed to ensure that paint technicians are up to date with PPG products, processes and technological advances. All classes are led by expert instructors, take one to two days and are held at PPG Business Development Centers and various field locations throughout the U.S. and Canada.

PPG training is the most extensive in the refinish industry, offering a broad range of topics from product selection, equipment and color tools to surface preparation and paint application best practices. Of particular importance are the certification and recertification classes offered for the Envirobase® High Performance, Aquabase® Plus and Deltron® brands. PPG refinish technicians must be certified every two years. Collision centers wanting to offer their customers the PPG Lifetime Limited Paint Performance Guarantee must have a certified paint technician on staff.

PPG training also addresses tri-coats and specialty finishes along with classes on color theory and its practical application in accurately matching and tinting refinish waterborne and solvent-borne colors. Technicians gain exposure to numerous products and color tools and learn various blending and application techniques.

All PPG classes allow opportunities for informal discussions and Q&A sessions with the trainers. Participants receive classroom instruction and, when appropriate, hands-on experience in the spray booth. Classes are available in French in some locations.

Visit us.ppgrefinish.com/training for complete descriptions of course offerings, dates, locations and registration instructions. Early registration is encouraged since classes tend to fill quickly. For more information about PPG training, call (800) 647-6050.

STRONGSVILLE, Ohio – June 29, 2018
Tasca Racing is coming home to New England. The PPG-supported team will take part in the NHRA New England Nationals set for July 6–8 at the New England Dragway — its home track — in Epping, New Hampshire. The event is part of the 2018 NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series. Led by Bob Tasca III, team president and driver, and his 11,000-horsepower PPG Ford Shelby Mustang, the crew competes in the Nitro Funny Car Class.

PPG is supporting Tasca Racing throughout the 2018 season. The company has served as the team’s primary sponsor at the Southern Nationals in Atlanta, Georgia, in May and will repeat its prominent role at the New England Nationals. PPG is also an associate sponsor for Tasca’s remaining NHRA races during the year.

Tasca and PPG have a solid partnership that began when Bob III’s grandfather, Bob Tasca Sr., started using PPG products at his Ford dealership’s collision shop in Cranston, Rhode Island. Today, the Tasca Automotive Group has eight locations — including new car dealerships, collision centers and service centers — in New England. PPG’s Envirobase® High Performance system is the preferred brand in the company’s four collision centers. The waterborne basecoat is also the paint of choice for the Tasca Mustang.

“PPG has been a Tasca Racing supporter since we started, and we’ve been loyal PPG customers for more than 20 years,” said Tasca. “It’s exciting to run PPG’s colors — I’m excited to have them as a sponsor. New England is where it all began for us, and coming home is a big deal. I’m hoping to see our PPG customers and racing fans cheering for us at the dragway. Racing in front of our crowd means a lot to us.”

PPG echoes Tasca’s sentiments: “It’s a thrill to be a Tasca Racing sponsor,” said Bill Shaw, PPG director, refinish marketing, Automotive Refinish. “We have a long-standing business relationship with the Tasca family, and we’re racing fans. PPG and Tasca are a natural match. You know we’ll be trackside come July 6.”

Tasca’s Shelby Mustang consistently hits speeds in the 325 mph zone in just over 3.8 seconds on the quarter mile when racing in the NHRA Funny Car category. He has won six national NHRA events. The team currently stands in the top ten in its class.

About Tasca Racing

Now headquartered near Charlotte in Concord, N.C., Tasca Racing was founded in 1962 by legendary Ford dealer Bob Tasca Sr. of Rhode Island. While best known for coining the term “Win on Sunday, Sell on Monday,” Bob Tasca Sr. is also widely recognized for helping bring Ford to the forefront of performance during the golden era of racing in the 1950s and 1960s with such vehicles as the 428 Cobra Jet. The Tasca performance heritage continues with the second and third generations of the family. Carl Tasca Sr. (Bob’s son) drives the fastest Ford Cobra Jet in the country. Bob Tasca III (Bob’s grandson) pilots a 330 mph 11,000-horsepower Shelby Nitro Mustang. See more at www.tascaracing.com.